Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today opposed privatization of Power sector and assured his full support to the thousands of Power employees in Jammu and Kashmir who have gone on indefinite pen down and tools down strike against the privatization of grid stations.
The employees, under the banner of Power Employees and Engineers Coordination Committee (PEECC), J&K, are demanding white paper on non-creations/regularization of engineers and PDL, TDL staff and casual labourers besides opposing any move by the Government to privatize this vital sector.
Tarigami said the Power Development Department was converted into a Corporation and the employees were assured release of timely wages, promotions and regularization of daily wagers. However, it did not happen and now the Government was trying to privatize the grid stations.
“After converting the Department into a Corporation, the Government did not fulfill the promises made to the employees which are sheer injustice with them. If the Government moves ahead with any plan of privatization, not only the Power employees, but also consumers will have to bear the brunt,” he said, adding, the decision to privatize Power sector will hit consumers and traders hard as private players will increase tariff as per their own choice.
Tarigami said privatization of electricity is no way for power sector reforms, rather it will impact adversely upon poor domestic consumers, medium and small industries and poor farmers. He said at a time when the economy is in a tailspin and the country is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, such proposals that will favour the wealthy while burdening the needy, are totally unacceptable.
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